ON 

OUTPOST  DUTY. 

ARENTSCHILDT  &  PONSONBY. 


J.  W.  EANDOIPH,  Richmond,  Va. 


George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 

DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 
FAMILY  OF 

COLONEL  FLOWERS 


i^vt^W 


J 


INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR  OFFICERS  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED 
OFFICERS  OF  CAVALRY, 

0  N 

OXJTFOST    DUTY: 


LIEUT.-COLONEL  VON  ARENTSCHILDT, 

First  Hussars  King's  German  Legion  : 


AN  ABRIDGMENT  OF  THEM 


LIEUT.-COLONEL  THE  HOW.  F.  PONSONBY, 

•     Twelfth  Light  Dragoons. 


J.W.RANDOLPH: 

121  MAIN  STREET,  RICHMOND,  VA\ 

1861. 


THIS 

VALUABLE    DIGEST 

O  F 

INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  OFFICERS  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED 
OFFICERS  OF  CAVALRY  ON  OUTPOST  DUTY, 

IS    REPRINTED    FROM    THE    LONDON    EDITION 
BY    ORDER    OF 

BRIG'R  GENERAL  PHILTP  ST.  GEO.  COCKE, 

WHILST  COMMANDING   POTOMAC  MILITARY  DEPARTMENT 
OF  VIRGINIA, 

AND    DEDICATED    BY    HIM    TO 

CAPTAIN  LAY  AND  HLS  "POWHATAN  TROOP" 
OF  CAVALRY. 


THIS  DIGEST  IS  EARNESTLY  COMMENDED  TO  THE  ATTENTION' 
OF  THE  OFFICERS  AND  NON  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 
OF  CAVALRY  OF  VIRGINIA,  AND   OF  THE 
•       CONFEDERATE  STATES. 


a3 


45 


OUTPOST    DUTY. 
I. 

INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  OFFICERS  AND  NONCOMMISSIONED 
OFFICERS : 

BY   LIEUT. -COLONEL   VON   ARENTSCHILDT. 

II. 

AN  ABRIDGMENT  OF  THE  SAME : 

BY  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  THE  HON.  F.  PONSONBY. 


a4 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  VON  ARENTSCIllLDT'S 

INSTRUCTIONS  ON 

OUTMOST    DUTY. 


a5 


12       IF  NO  PICQUET  WAS  ON  THE  SPOT  BEFORE. 

SECTION  II. 

MARCHING   FOR   HIS   DESTINATION. 

On  the  march  to  the  spot  where  the  Picquet 
is  to  be  pLaced,  the  Officer  must  pay  great  atten- 
tion in  examining  the  country,  and  particuLarly 
observe  the  places  where  he  would  make  a  stand 
in  .case  the  Picquet  should  be  attacked  by  the 
Enemy  :  for  instance,  behind  a  bridge,  a  ravine, 
between  bogs,  &c.,  in  order  to  keep  off  the  enemy 
as  long  as  possible.  This  is  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance to  give  the  Corps  time  to  turn  out. 
The  Commander  of  a  Picquet  who  retires  with 
his  men  at  full  speed,  and  the  Enemy  at  his 
heels,  deserves  the  severest  punishment ;  he 
must  retire  as  slow  as  possible,  and  constantly 
skirmish. 

SECTION  III. 

IF   NO   PICQUET   WAS   ON   THE   SPOT   BEFORE. 

By   Day. 

Being  arrived  at  the  spot  chosen  by  himself, 
or  pointed  out  to  him,  he  forms  his  Picquet,  and 
takes  out  as  many  men  as  lie  thinks  he  has  occa- 
sion for  as  Videttes.  To  fix  upon  the  number  of 
Videttes,  is  much  facilitated  by  riding  on  the  top 
of  a  hill,  and  observing  the  number  of  roads 
and  hills  in  front.  With  these  Videttes  he  goes 
on,  and  places  them  in  such  a  manner  that  every 
one  of  them  is  able  to  see  individually  what  is 


JF  NO  PICQUET  WAS  ON  THE  SPOT  BEFORE.        13 

coming  towards  the  Picquet,  as  well  as  the 
neighbouring  Videttes.  The  remainder  of  the 
Picquet  dismounts  in  the  mean  time,  with  the 
exception  of  one  Sentry,  who  is  to  be  placed  a 
little  in  advance.  The  bridles  are  not  to  be 
taken  off.  In  placing  tlie  Videttes  the  Officer 
will  have  acquired  a  sufficient  knowledge  gf  the 
country  to  be  able  to  judge  whether  any  of  them 
are  superfluous,  (which  is  much  to  be  avoided, 
as  men  and  horses  are  unnecessarily  fatigued  by 
it,)  or  whether  there  ought  to  be  more.  Two- 
thirds  of  the  Picquet  now  unbridle  :  it  is  to  be 
recollected  that  the  whole  of  a  Picquet  should 
never  unbridle.  The  Officer  then  reconnoitres 
the  country.  Every  one  ambitious  to  do  his 
duty  well  will  make  a  little  sketch,  in  which  the 
following  are  to  be  marked  ; 

1.  Eoads  ;  2.  Rivers  ;  3.  Bridges  and  Fords  ; 
4.  Morasses,  cavities,  hollow  roads,  and  moun- 
tains ;  5.  Wood  ;  6.  Towns,  Villages  and  their 
distances. 

If  the  Officer  does  not  acquire  such  an  exact 
knowledge  of  the  country,  he  cannot  be  respon- 
sible for  the  security  of  his  Picquet,  and  of  the 
corps  to  which  he  belongs. 

By  this  time  he  will  have  had  opportunity  to 
fix  upon  the  spot  where  his  Picquet  and  Videttes 
ought  to  be  placed  at  night. 


1 4       IF  NO  PICQUET  WAS  ON  THE  SPOT  BEFORE. 

By  NlgU. 

It  is  impossible  to  lay  down  any  fixed  princi- 
ples on  this  subject  ;  but  the  general  rules  are, 
to  advance  the  Ficquet  at  least  two  or  three  En- 
glish miles  in  front  of  the  main  body  :  to  place 
it  behind  a  bridge,  ravine,  wood,  or  bog  through 
which  the  road  passes,  in  order  to  be  enabled  to 
make  a  stand  immediately  on  being  attacked,  and 
to  place  Videttes  in  front  and  flanks.  Small 
Patrols  of  two  or  three  men  in  front,  and  flanks 
at  half  an  hour's  interval,  and  constantly  kept 
in  motion,  will  give  perfect  security,  particu- 
larly if  one  of  the  men  sometimes  dismounts,  and 
listens  with  his  ear  on  the  ground  :  he  will  hear 
the  march  of  troops  at  a  great  distance.  This  pre- 
caution is  indispensable  in  stormy  weather.  Upon 
coming  by  night  to  a  new  spot,  particularly  in  a 
mountainous  or  woody  country,  small  Patrols 
must  be  pushed  forward  immediately  in  all  the 
roads,  &c. ,  to  secure  in  the  first  instance  the 
placing  of  Videttes,  &c.,  &c. 

If  the  enemy  is  near,  no  fire  is  to  be  lighted, 
and  the  spot  where  the  Picqnet  st  mds  should 
be  changed  very  often  ;  one-half  of  the  Picquet 
should  be  mounted,  the  other  stand  with  the 
bridles  in  their  hands. 


RELIEVING  ANOTHER  PICQUET.  15 

SECTION  IV. 

RELIEVING   ANOTHER   PICQUET. 

Great  part  of  wliat  is  said  in  sections  I.  and 
II.  is  likewise  to  be  applied  here.  As  soon  as 
the  Officer  is  arrived  at  the  Picquct  that  is  to  be 
relieved,  he  forms  at  its  left  flank,  or  beliind  it, 
as  the  nature  of  the  ground  requires,  draws  out 
a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  as  many  Videttes 
as  he  has  to  relieve,  (the  remainder  dismounts,) 
and  proceeds  with  tlie  Officer  commanding  tlie 
old  Picquet  and  liis  own  non-commissioned  Offi- 
cer to  relieve  the  Videttes.  The  Officers  should 
be  very  particular  in  delivering  the  detail  of 
their  duties,  and  the  following  is  to  be  observed 
on  such  occasions. 

1.  All  written  orders  or  instructions  must  be 
delivered,  and  the  verbal  orders  written  down 
and  signed  by  the  Officer  who  is  relieved. 

2.  The  outlines  of  the  sketch  belonging  to  the 
Officer  commanding  the  old  Picquet  are  to  be 
copied  and  filled  up  afterwards — 

3.  To  whom  the  reports  are  to  be  sent. 

4.  Where  the  Picquets  on  the  flanks  are  sta- 
tioned ;  what  roads  lead  to  them  ;  how  often 
Patrols  are  exchanged  between  them  in  the 
night.  In  case  the  roads  to  them  are  little 
known,  or  difficult  to  be  found,  the  Non-com- 
missioned Officer  of  the  old  Picquet  must  show 
them  to  that  of  the  new  one,  who  takes  another 
man  with  him. 


16  RELIEVING  ANOTHER  PICQUET 

5.  Inquiries  must  "be  made  as  to  tlie  know- 
ledge the  Officer  has  of  the  enemy,  particularly 
where  he  patrols  to  ;  whether  he  thinks  that  the 
Picquet  has  been  w^ell  posted,  at  night  as  well 
as  in  the  day,  or  whether  improvements  can  be 
made.  If  such  an  impi-ovement  is  found  to  be 
necessary  by  placing  one  or  two  more  Videttes, 
they  ought  to  be  posted  immediately,  but  the 
same  is  to  be  reported  without  delay. 

At  the  relief  of  the  A^idettes,  both  the  officers 
of  the  old  and  new  Picquets  should  be  present. 
They  must  listen  to  the  delivery  of  instructions 
from  the  old  Vidette  to  the  new  one,  and  the 
latter  is  to  be  desired  to  repeat  what  has  been 
delivered  to  him,  to  prevent  any  mistake.  The 
principal  points  of  these  instructions  should  be  : 
on  what  roads  and  from  what  part  of  the  coun- 
try the  enemy  may  be  expected  to  advance  ; 
where  the  neighbouring  Videttes  are  stationed, 
in  order  to  be  able  to  repeat  their  signals,  which 
they  may  have  particular  orders  to  make.  The 
new  Vidette  must  be  very  particular  in  occupy- 
ing the  same  spot  that  the  old  one  did,  as  some- 
times the  difference  of  one  yard  may  be  of  great 
consequence  in  observing  or  being  observed  at  a 
great  distance. 

If  the  relief  is  not  made  with  the  above-men- 
tioned exactness,  all  orders  that  have  been  issued 
may  be  misunderstood  or  quite  forgotten  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  days. 

After  all  the  Videttes  have  been  relieved  in 
this  manner,  the  spot  where  the    Picquet  and 


DURING  HIS  STAY  ON  PICQUET.  W 

Yidettes  "have  been  stationed  in  the  night  are  to 
"be  pointed  out  to  the  Officer  of  the  new  Picquet. 
The  old  Picquet  now  marches  off,  and  tlie  new 
one  takes  its  place.  The  horses  may  be  then  un- 
bridled, except  one-third  or  one-fourth. 

SECTION  V. 

DURING   HIS  STAY  ON   PICQUET. 

By  Day. 

A  Dismounted  Sentry  who  is  able  to  see  the 
movements  of  the  several  Videttes,  and  who  can 
acquaint  the  Picquet  with  them,  is  a  measure  so 
necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  Picquet^  that  it 
never  ought  to  be  omitted. 

One-third  or  one-fourth  of  the  horses  are  al- 
ways bridled  up  and  ready  to  advance  ;  the  men 
must  never  take  off  their  swords  and  belts  ;  one- 
half  of  them  may  sleep  in  the  middle  of  the  day, 
the  other  in  the  afternoon,  that  they  may  be  all 
perfectly  alert  at  niglit. 

The  men  must  not  be  allowed  to  go  into  houses 
or  villages  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  such  strag- 
gling leads  to  irregularities,  and  on  being  rapid- 
ly attacked  by  the  enemy  the  horses  will  be  lost. 

When  the  men  water  their  horses,  they  must 
bridle  them  up,  and  take  everything  with  them  ; 
none  but  inexperienced  and  negligent  Officers 
will  allow  the  men  to  water  their  horses  at  any 
distance  with  merely  the  halter  on,  and  leaving 
the  bridle  with  the  Picquet. 


18  DURING  IIIS  STAY  ON   PICQUET. 

In  short,  a  Picquet  must  at  all  times  be  ready 
for  an  attack  in  half  a  minute. 

How  often  the  Picquets  are  to  patrol,  where 
to  and  how  far,  is  generally  ordered  by  the 
Officer  commanding  the  outposts.  If  there  are 
no  orders  upon  these  subjects,  the  following 
Patrols  will  be  sent : 

The  fii'st  at  half  an  hour  before  day-break,  or 
so  early  tliat  it  lias  time  to  arrive  at  the  place  of 
its  destination  at  daylight  ;  here  it  will  remain 
until  it  is  full  day-liglit.  Whoever  leads  the 
Patrol  is  to  go  up  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  where  he 
can  look  about  to  a  considerable  distance,  and 
then  he  returns  ,  the  second  Patrol  at  ten  o'clock  ; 
the  tliird  at  two  o'clock  ;  the  fourth  towards 
evening  ;  the  fifth  at  midnight. 

This  arrangement,  however,  depends  upon  the 
distance  of  tlie  enemy,  except  the  morning  Patrol 
before  day-light,  which  is  to  go  under  all  cir- 
cumstances. 

It  cannot  be  too  frequently  told  to  all  Patrols, 
that  they  are  often  to  look  to  the  rear  when  they 
return.  The  Enemy  very  frequently  succeeds  in 
following  a  negligent  Patrol  of  this  kind,  and 
surprising  the  Picquet,  which  thinks  itself  per- 
fectly secure.  In  a  close  country  it  is  very 
advisable  after  the  return  of  a  patrol,  to  send 
forward  again  a  few  men  at  the  distance  of  a 
mile,  to  be  certain  that  the  Enemy  did  not  follow 
the  Patrol. 


DURING   HIS  STAY  ON  PICQUET.  19 

Bij  Night, 

The  proper  time  for  the  Picquet  to  go  to  the 
night  post  is  when  it  gets  too  dark  for  the  day 
Videttes  to  see  at  any  distance ;  they  are  then 
called  in^  and  the  position  for  the  night  is  taken 
up. 

If  there  are  any  apprehensions  of  being  be- 
trayed to  the  enemy  by  spies  or  inhabitants  of 
the  country,  it  is  advisable  to  change  the  spot 
again,  but  the  Videttes  will  remain. 

In  case  the  enemy  is  very  near,  the  Picquet 
must  be  mounted  ;  this  is,  however,  very  fati- 
guing for  men  and  horses  ;  it  is,  therefore^  better 
to  cause  one-tliird  or  one-half  to  mount  and  to 
advance  about  a  hundred  yards;  the  remainder 
is  to  stand  by  their  horses. 

At  night  the  Videttes  may  be  relieved  every 
hour.  The  Relief  should  ride  along  the  chain  of 
Videttes  ;  this  may  be  considered,  at  the  same 
time,  as  a  visiting  Patrol.  Besides  this  Patrol, 
the  Videttes  are  to  be  visited  every  half  hour  to 
be  quite  sure  that  none  of  them  have  deserted  or 
fallen  asleep.  If  the  enemy  is  near,  the  Videttes 
should  be  all  double  ;  which  is  at  all  times  to  be 
recommended  in  preference  to  single  Videttes,  if 
the  strength  of  the  Picquet  will  allow  it. 

In  case  a  man  deserts,  the  spot  where  the  Pic- 
quet is  stationed  ought  to  be  instantly  changed 
to  some  hundred  yards'  distance,  and  the  fire  to 
be  extinguislied  ;  the  Videttes  are  to  be  made  ac- 
quainted with  this  change,  and  double  attention 


20  DURING  IIIS  STAY  ON    PICQUET. 

paid.     Tn   such   cases    double    Yidcttes    patrol 
among  themselves  in  the  following  manner  : 

Fig.  I. 
12  3        4  5         6 

0         0 0        0 0        0 

Videttes. 
No.  1  patrols  to  his  left,  and  when  returned  No. 
2  proceeds  to  No.  3,  and  returns  to  his  station  : 
No.  3  patrols  to  No.  2,  and  when  returned,  No.  4 
will  go  to  No.  5  and  return  ;  5  and  6,  and  all  the 
other  Videttes  do  the  same.  If  this  is  done  it  is 
im[)ossible  that  anything  can  pass  unperceived. 
The  desertion  of  any  man  must  be  reported  with- 
out delay. 

When  tlie  Enemy  is  close,  the  following  mea- 
sures not  onl}'  contributes  to  insure  security,  but 
is  the  best  way  to  learn  when  the  Enemy  is  on 
the  move  .*  A  few  men  are  to  patrol  during  the 
niglit  every  hour  beyond  the  chain  of  Videttes, 
in  different  directions,  and  to  go  as  close  to  the 
Enemy  as  they  can,  unperceived.  As  soon  as 
they  are  far  enough,  one  man  dismounts  and  lis- 
tens with  his  ear  on  the  ground  ;  he  will  be 
enabled  to  hear  at  a  considerable  distance  w^hen 
Troops  march.  This  undoubtedly  gives  security 
to  the  outpost ;  but  it  is  particularly  recommend- 
ed, being  the  only  means  to  ascertain  the  secret 
movements  of  the  enemy  in  the  night,  to  disco- 
ver which  the  greatest  exertions  ought  to  be 
made,  as  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the 


PLACING  OF  VIDETTES.  21* 

.'Dmmander-in-chief  to  be  immediately  acquaint- 
2d  with  them. 

I  The  Picquets  have  frequently  no  orders  to  de- 
itain  people  that  pass  through  the  line  of  outposts 
towards  the  enemy  ;  but  in  the  evening  and  du- 
|iing  the  night  every  one  attempting  to  do  so 
must  remain  with  the  Picquet  until  daylight. 
'Persons  suspected  of  carrying  any  papers  with 
them  are  to  be  searched,  and  sent  to  the  Com- 
manding Officer,  with  a  written  statement  why 
they  appear  suspicious.  Half  an  hour  before 
daylight  the  morning  Patrols  will  be  sent  on  the 
roads  in  front,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  quite  light  the 
Picquet  and  Videttes  take  up  their  position  for 
the  day. 

SECTION  YI. 

PLACING   OF   VIDETTES. 

Although  little  can  be  said  upon  this  sub- 
ject, (everything  depending  upon  the  nature  of 
the  country,)  the  following  rules  may  be  appli- 
cable : 

Bi/  Day. 

They  are  generally  placed  upon  hills,  to  ena- 
ble them  to  have  a  good  view  of  everything  in 
front.  In  a  mountainous  country  the  ravines 
and  narrow  valleys  now  and  then  cannot  be  ob- 
served at  the  top  of  a  hill  ;  in  this  case  a  Vidette 
is  to  be  placed  in  the  bottom.  It  is  desirable  to 
place  the  Videttes  on  the  top  of  hills,  near  a  tree 


12  PLACING  OF  VIDETTES. 

or  large  stone,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  seeing 
them,  jis  he  may  conchule,  by  seeinsjj  one  of  them, 
what  position  the  whole  line  of  Videttes  and  Pic- 
qnets,  and  even  sometimes  the  corps  to  which 
they  belong,  have  taken  up. 

When  the  Videttes  are  placed  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  tliey  can  overlook  tlieir  iVont,  see  each, 
other  and  the  ground  between  them,  so  that 
notliiiig  can  pass  unperceived,  they  are  placed 
as  they  ought  to  be. 

In  order  to  spare  men  and  horses,  no  more 
Videttes  tlian  necessary  are  to  be  out. 

In  a  tliick  fog  the  Videttes  stationed  at  a 
considerable  distance  on  the  flanks  are  taken 
oif  tlie  hills  and  placed  on  more  suitable  spots. 
The  country  may  require  that  the  position  fixed 
npon  for  the  night  should  be  taken  up  during 
the  day,  in  which  case  the  country  in  front  must 
be  continually  scoured  in  all  directions  by  small 
Patrols  ;  v/hich  measure  always  gives  sufficient 
security. 

By  Night. 

The  Videttes  are  taken  off  the  hills,  and  placed 
on  the  roads,  behind  fords,  bridges,  ravines,  &c., 
by  which  the  enemy  may  approach  the  Picquet. 
At  a  clear  moonshine  they  ought  to  be  near  a 
tree  or  bush,  to  prevent  their  being  seen  by  the 
enemy,  as  in  a  close  country  it  may  happen  that 
he  a})])roac]ies  them  unperceived,  notwithstand- 
ing all  their  attention.  They  should  be  placed 
at  the  bottom  of  a  hill,  so  that  any  object  moving 


INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  THE  VIDETTES,  23 

on  the  top  would  be  easily  perceived  even  in  the 
dai  kest  night. 

They  are  by  no  means  to  be  advanced  further 
than  that  their  firing  can  be  distinctly  heard  by 
the  Picquet,  even  in  a  stormy  night. 

SECTION  VII. 

INSTRUCTIONS   FOR   THE   VIDETTES, 

And  what  the  Officer  Commanding  the  Picquct  has  to  observe  on 
their  making  Signals. 

By  Day, 

1.  When  a  Vidette  discovers  anything  suspi- 
cious on  the  side  of  i\\e  enemy,  should  it  bo  a 
rising  dust  or  the  glittering  of  arms,  he  should 
move  his  horse  in  a  circle  at  a  walk.  The  Officer 
should  instantly  proceed  to  the  Vidette_,  accom- 
panied by  a  corporal  and  four  men,  anil  if  he 
cannot  distinctly  discover  by  his  si)y-glass  the 
cause  of  the  dust,  he  should  send  olf  the  men 
that  accom[)anied  him,  as  a  Patrol,  or  go  him- 
self; so  far  that  he  can  report  in  case  he  sees 
Troops,  how  strong  the}^  are,  whether  consisting 
of  Cavalry,  Infantrv,  or  x\rtillery,  but  particu- 
larly in  which  direction  they  march.    Tliis  report 

i  must  be  dispatched  in  writing,  without  the  least 
delay. 

The  Commander  of  a  Picquet  should  never 
omit  to  report  occurrences  of  this  kind,  although 
they  may  have  no  connexion  with  the  security  of 

i  bis  Picquet.     Patrols  and  Picquets  must  always 


24  INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  THE  YIDETTES. 

report  the  movements  of  any   body  of  Troops, 
even  of  a  small  number. 

2.  If  tlie  Videttes  observe  Troops  marcbing  to- 
wards tbem,  but  yet  at  a  great  distance,  tbey 
^vill  lide  tlie  circle  in  a  trot.  The  Officer's  duty- 
is,  as  in  1. 

3.  If  tbe  enemy's  Troops  come  towards  the 
Picquet,  and  are  at  only  one  English  mile  dis- 
tance from  it^  tlie  Videttes  circle  in  a  gallop. 
The  Officer  immediately  advances  with  his  whole 
Picquet.  His  duty  is  prescribed  in  the  paragraph 
on  tlie  Attack  of  a  Picquet. 

If  the  enemy  is  so  near  that  tbe  Videttes  are 
obliged  to  gallop  to  their  Picquets  for  their  own 
security,  they  fire  their  carbines  and  pistols  in 
case  the  Picquet  should  not  have  advanced. 

By  Night. 

1.  As  soon  as  the  Videttes  hear  a  suspicious 
noise,  even  at  a  great  distance,  such  as  the  rat- 
tling of  carriages  or  artillery,  tlie  barking  of 
(logs  in  the  villages  in  front,  or  if  they  observe 
any  fire,  one  of  the  Videttes  must  instantly  re- 
port it  to  the  Officer  of  the  Picquet,  in  order  that 
the  circumstances  may  be  inquired  into  by  a 
Patrol. 

2.  8hould  any  person  approach  the  Vidette,  be 
must  be  challenged  with  "Who  comes  there?"  so 
loud  tliat  the  Picquet  and  the  next  Videttes  are 
able  to  hear  it.  If  those  that  approach  do  not  halt 
upon  this,  the  Vidette  should  challenge  a  second 
time  ;  if  they  do  not  halt,  he  should  fire,  and  retire 


ON  THE  ARRIVAL  OF  A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE.  25 

on  the  road  pointed  out  to  him,  &c.,  &c.  But  if 
those  that  he  challenged  halt,  he  cries  out  '^One 
man  dismount  V  and  at  the  same  time,  '' Sergeant 
advance!"  The  dismounted  man  he  desires  to 
approach,  but  not  nearer  than  three  yards,  and 
holds  the  cocked  pistol  directed  against  him. 
The  Officer  of  the  Picquet  must  be  instantly 
there,  and  examine  carefully  where  the  person 
or  persons  came  from,  who  sent  them,  and  what 
for,  (when  the  enemy  has  the  intention  to  sur- 
prise a  Picquet,  he  sometimes  pretends  to  be  a 
friendly  Patrol,)  to  what  regiment  they  belong, 
the  name  of  their  Brigadier,  Commanding  Offi- 
cer and  Captains — where  their  regiment  is  en- 
camped, &c.,  &c.;  if  they  are  able  readily  and 
justly  to  answer  these  questions,  they  may  pass 
unmolested,  as  in  that  case  one  may  consider  H  a 
certainty  that  they  are  no  enemies. 

SECTION  viir. 

ox  THE  ARRIVAL  OF  A  FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 

Any  person  coming  from  the  enemy  v/ith  a 
Flag  of  Truce,  must  never  be  allowed  to  advance 
further  than  the  chain  of  Videttes.  When  a  Vi- 
dette  makes  the  signal,  the  Officer  of  the  Picquet 
meets  the  Flag  of  Truce  with  four  men,  and  de- 
sires the  bearer  of  it  to  halt,  if  possible  in  a  bot- 
tom, or  makes  him  face  towards  the  side  he  came 
from,  as  it  may  be  only  the  intention  of  the 
enemy  to  make  observations  respecting  our  posi- 
tion, or  to  see  how  the  Picquet  is  placed,  in  order 


2G  DESERTERS- COMING  FROM  TilE  ENEMY. 

to  surprise  it  in  the  night.  Docs  the  bearer  of  the 
Fhig  of  Truce  only  bring  letters,  they  are  to  bo 
taken  from  liim,  and  a  receipt  given  for  them  ; 
if  he  insists  upon  being  aUowecl  to  proceed,  per- 
mission must  be  asked,  whicli  being  obtained, 
the  person  proceeding  is  blindfolded  ;  a  Non- 
commissioned Officer  leads  his  horse,  and  brings 
him  to  the  General's  quarter.  Should  there  be 
more  persons  than  one,  the  remainder  must  stay 
where  tliey  are,  until  the  other  returns.  A  Flag 
of  Truce  ought  to  be  treated  with  the  utmost  po- 
liteness ;  if  refreshments  can  be  given,  it  is  desi- 
rable to  do  so  ;  but  no  conversation  relative  to 
our  position  and  to  tlie  army  is  to  be  permitted. 
After  a  Flag  of  Truce  has  left  the  Videttes, 
the  Picquet  must  be  very  attentive. 

SECTION  IX. 

DESERTERS   COMING   FROM    THE   ENEMY. 

At   Daytime. 

As  they  are  discernable  at  a  distance,  but 
cannot  be  known  to  be  deserters,  a  proportionate 
number  from  tlie  Picquet  must  already  have 
advanced  to  the  line  of  Videttes  when  they  ap-| 
proach.  Deserters  generally  make  themselves 
known  by  flourishing  the  cap  about  their  head, 
and  calling  jout  "  Deserter  I''  But  this  is  not  to 
be  depended  upon  ;  their  farther  behaviour  must 
be  previously  observed.  They  are  to  be  told  that 
it  is  an  order  in  the  army  to  take  their  arms 


WHEN  THE  PICQUET  IS  ATTACKED.  27 

rom  them — that  is  to  say,  their  swords  :  the 
lints  are  only  taken  off  the  fire-arms.  In  pro- 
3ortion  to  their  number  they  are  then  to  be 
Drought  to  the  General's  quarter  by  one,  two,  or 
;hree  men,  and  their  swords  returned  to  them. 

Whenever  any  property  is  taken  from  a  de- 
erter,  the  act  is  always  to  be  severely  punished. 

At   Niglit. 

Great  caution  is  to  be  used  in  this  instance. 
The  Videttes  must  order  them  to  halt  at  some 
iistance,  and  by  no  means  allow  them  to  come 
too  near.  The  Picquet  advances,  and  the  De- 
serters are  to  come  towards  it  one  by  one,  and  be 
disarmed  immediately.  After  all  this  is  done, 
they  are  brought  to  the  rear.  Deserters  must  be 
examined  respecting  the  movements,  &c.,  of  the 
Enemy. 

SECTION  X. 

WHEN   THE   PICQUET   IS  ATTACKED. 

By  Day. 

The  first  to  be  done  is  to  report  what  is 
going  on,  and  in  a  mountainous  and  woody 
country  at  the  same  time  to  acquaint  the  Pic- 
quets  on  the  flanks  with  it.  After  this  the 
Picquet  advances,  but  in  such  a  manner  that  it 
cannot  be  cut  off,  and  begins  to  skirmish.  It 
will  seldom  be  practicable  or  suitable  to  advance 
farther  than  the  chain  of  Videttes.  Is  the  Officer 


28  WHEN  THE  PICQUET  IS  ATTACKED. 

obliged  to  retire,  it  must  be  done  as  slow  as  pos- 
sible, to  gain  time  for  the  Corps  to  turn  out.  If 
the  Commander  of  the  Picquet  has  previously 
fixed  upon  places  where  to  make  a  stand,  as  pre- 
scribed in  Section  II.,  it  is  now  time  to  make  use 
of  them,  when  he  has  retired  so  far.  The  best 
way  for  cavalry  to  defend  a  bridge,  ravine,  or 
ford,  is  the  following  (lig.  2)  : 


Fig.  2. 


WHEN  THE  PICQUET  IS  ATTACKED.  31 

When  the  Picquet  has  been  obliged  to  retire 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  to  the  brid;jje,  the 
Officer  is  to  gallop  over  it  with  the  same,  aud  to 
230st  liimself  in  A,  as  close  as  possible,  with  his 
right  flank  on  it,,  leaving  the  passage  open.  As 
soon  as  his  skirmishers  see  that  he  has  taken  up 
his  position,  and  that  the  passage  over  the  bridge 
is  open,  they  likewise  gallop  over  it,  and  face 
about  again  in  B.  The  Enemy  will  certainly 
halt,  and  if  he  pushes  on,  those  in  A  have  only 
to  cut  him  down  as  he  is  not  in  a  state  of  de- 
fence, being  obliged  to  expose  his  left  flank : 
those  in  B  charge  likewise,  or  fire  upon  him  at 
eight  yards'  distance.  In  this  manner  the  Ene- 
my must  halt,  and  is  obliged  to  retire  a  little, 
in  order  to  throw  skirmishers  in  C,  to  drive  away 
the  Picquet  by  their  fire.  However,  time  is 
gained  by  this^  on  which  sometimes  the  honor 
and  welfare  of  the  Corps  depend.  This  conside- 
ration only  could  induce  me  to  be  so  circumstan- 
tial upon  this  subject. 

When  the  Picquets  on  the  flanks  are  not  at- 
tacked at  the  same  time,  they  can  be  sometimes 
of  service  in  acting  upon  the  Enemy's  flanks  ; 
yet  the  nature  of  the  ground  must  not  endanger 
them  to  be  cut  off".  But  however  favorable  the 
ground  may  often  be,  it  appears  sometimes  sur- 
prising to  see  that  the  nearest  Picquets  frequent- 
ly do  not  undertake  anything  on  such  occasions, 
and  behave  exactly  as  if  the  whole  business  did 
not  concern  them  at  all. 

In  general,  it  is  a  rule  that  the  Picquets  that 


32  WHEN  THE  PICQUET   IS  ATTACKED. 

are  not  attacked,  retire  in  a  line  with  those  en- 
gaged. 

By  Night, 

It  is  mentioned  in  Section  VII.  that  when 
the  Videttes  have  fired  their  fire-arms,  they  must 
gallop  back  by  the  road  i:)ointed  out  to  them.  It 
is  of  the  hightest  importance  to  instruct  the 
night  Videttes,  that,  in  case  the  Enemy  should 
rapidly  attack  them,  they  are  not  to  retire  to- 
wards the  Picquet,  but  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
to  the  right  or  left  of  it,  firing  constantly  in  the 
meantime,  and  trying  by  these  means  to  mislead 
the  Enemy,  and  draw  him  after  them.  The  Pic- 
quet hereby  gains  time  to  mount,  and  to  fall  in 
the  Enemy's  flank  and  rear,  with  a  great  noise, 
who  will  certainly  suspect  to  have  fallen  in  an 
ambush,  be  puzzled,  and  perhaps  lose  some  pri- 
soners. Immediately  after  this  attack  is  made, 
it  will  be  best  to  fall  back  again  on  the  road 
fixed  upon  for  a  retreat.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to 
show  the  men  in  the  day  the  road  which  the  Vi- 
dettes are  to  take,  when  they  are  attacked  in  the 
night,  and  likewise  whereabout  they  are  to  rejoin 
the  Picquet.  The  other  part  of  the  retreat  is 
nearly  the  same  as  in  the  day,  with  this  differ- 
ence only,  that  there  cannot  be  skirmishers  in 
front,  but  only  two  or  three  men  at  the  head.  It 
is  necessary  to  fire  as  much  as  possible,  but 
wherever  a  stand  can  be  made,  an  obstinate  de- 
fence is  desirable.  It  is  unnecessary  to  remark 
that  a  report  is  to  be  sent  as  soon  as  attacked. 


II.  ADVANCED  GUARD. 


By  Day.  Fig. 


Suppose  the  same  consists  of  one  Offi- 
cer, two  Non-commissioned  officers,  and  '  " 
twenty-four  men,  the  officer  command-  m^°^ 
iner  tells  them  off  as  in  fioc.  3.  I"  i    ^ 

This  gives  an  extension  of  1,500  yards,  g  ,  "^ 

which  is  sufficient  for  twenty-four  men.  '^  \    % 

If  the  column  is  larger,  the  Advanced  '   ^ 

Guard  is  likewise  stronger  and  more  ex-  ||  j^ 

tended.     A  rule  is,  that  the  Advanced  „•  J  w 

Guard  should  take  up  so  much  ground,  ^  \    a 
that  when  it  discovers  the  enemy,  the 
column  has  sufficient  time  to  form  and 

make  dispositions^  either  for  attacking  ||  § 

or  retiring.     The   several    divisions    of  '   ^^ 

the  Advanced  Guard  must  always  keep  ^   i    g 

their  support  in  sight,  and  he  careful  to  &  I   g 

preserve  the  same  distances.    When  the  o  1 

column  halts,  the  Advanced  Guard  does  S  | 

the    same,   hut   the    three    men  at  the  J 

head   instantly  occupy   the    neighbour-  c   ' 

ing   heights,   in  case  the  enemy  should  J  O 

be  within  four  or  five   hundred  yards.  §  g 


o     •     ^ 


&, 


34  ADVANCED  GUARD. 

If  the  Advanced  Guard  comes  to  a  wood  whicli 
is  supposed  to  be  2,000  yards  broad,  the  Ser^jjeant 
reinlorces  the  tliree  men  at  the  head  with  six 
more,  who  extend  themselves  so  far  to  the  right 
and  left  as  to  be  in  line  with  the  first  three,  that 
they  can  see  each  other,  and  wliat  is  concealed 
between  them,  and  he  follows  with  the  two  men 
left  him,  the  three  men  in  advance  on  the  road. 
Should  tlie  wood  be  too  large,  the  Officer  must 
send  two  men  to  the  right,  and  as  many  to  the 
left,  round  it,  who  arx3  carefully  to  examine 
whether  they  can  see  the  traces  of  troops  marclied 
into  the  wood,  whicli  is  to  be  immediately  re- 
ported. The  column  halts  until  this  is  ascer- 
tained. 

Generally  only  two  men  march  at  the  heads, 
but  this  is  wrong  ;  tliere  ought  to  be  three,  whose 
duty  is  the  following  :  Is  a  height  in  front,  the 
centre  man  of  the  three  trots  on  until  he  can 
look  over  it ;  if  there  is  one  to  the  right  or  left 
of  the  road,  one  of  the  other  two  men  does  the 
same.  Near  an  enemy  this  must  always  be 
done,  supposed  even  that  the  hill  is  1500  or  2000 
yards  distance.  Men  that  go  on  the  top  of  a  hill 
to  reconnoitre  in  this  manner,  (they  may  belong 
to  an  Advanced  Guard  or  a  Patrol,)  must  pro- 
ceed more  carel'ully  than  is  generally  done.  Asa 
great  deal  depends  upon  seeing  the  Enemy,  and 
not  to  be  seen  by  him,  they  must,  when  nearly 
on  the  top  of  the  hill,  take  off*  the  cap,  and  only 
go  as  high  as  just  to  be  able  to  look  over  ;  this 
produces    the  •  great   advantage,    that   the  Com- 


ADVANCED   GUARD.  35 

manding  Officer  may  observe  the  marching  Ene- 
my, and  make  his  arrangements  accordingly  for 
a  retreat,  an  attack,  or  an  ambuscade.  All  these 
advantages  are  lost  when  tliB"  Enemy  discovers 
us. 

Should  the  march  be  directed  towards  a  vil- 
lage, one  man  goes  round  it  to  the  right,  the  oth- 
er to  the  left,  and  the  third  through  it,  if  the  sit- 
uation of  tlie  village  permits  to  do  so.  The 
N on-Commissioned  Officer  of  the  Advanced 
Guard  also  trots  on  until  he  arrives  near  the  vil- 
lage, and  reinforces  the  men  going  through  it 
with  three  more  ;  one  of  these  four  men  goes  to 
the  right,  the  other  to  the  left,  through  the  bye- 
roads  ;  two  men  proceed  through  the  middle  of 
it,  at  such  a  distance  from  each  other,  that  the 
hindmost  always  keep  in  sight  the  one  before 
him.  Should  these  men  in  patrolling  the  village 
find  no  inhabitants,  they  are  to  look  into  the 
windows,  ride  into  the  yards,  and  examine  care- 
fully if  perhaps  tlie  Enemy  concealed  himself; 
those  going  round  the  village  look  at  the  entran* 
ces  to  see  if  Troups  marched  into  the  village. 
The  Sergeant,  with  his  men,  folh)Ws  slowly; 
when  he  has  passed  through  the  village  he  col- 
lects his  men,  sends  three  men  again  at  the  head, 
and  reports  to  his  Officer,  who  has  halted  behind 
the  village,  that  the  same  is  patrolled,  &c. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  observe,  that  these  and 
other  precautionary  measures  are  not  requisite 
when  the  Enemy  cannot  be  expected. 


3G  ADVANCED  GUARD. 

By  Night. 

The  Advanced  Guard  is  told  off  as  by  day,  but 
the  distances  between  the  several  divisions  must 
not  be  as  large.  The  Officer's  Division  is  a  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  column,  the  Sergeant  a  hun- 
dred from  the  Officer's,  and  the  head  fifty  from 
the  Sergeant's  party.  Between  these  Divisions, 
single  men  are  to  ride,  who  can  see  each  other, 
to  prevent  the  communication  being  lost. 

If  an  Advanced  Guard  is  unexpectedly  at- 
tacked during  the  night,  or  meets  with  the  Ene- 
my, it  has  no  other  choice  but  instantly  to  fall 
upon  him.  The  Non-Commissioned  Officer  must 
be  instructed  to  disperse,  in  such  a  case,  to  the 
right  and  left,  and  to  fire  as  much  as  possible  ; 
but  the  Officer  advances  rapidly  ^vith  his  Divi- 
sion, and  charges.  This  is  the  only  way  to  give 
time  to  the  column  to  prepare  for  an  attack.  It 
is  an  unpardonable  fault  in  an  Advanced  Guard 
to  be  frightened,  and  to  retire  upon  the  column, 
every  thing  will  then  be  in  confusion,  and  it 
would  have  been  better,  if  there  had  been  no 
Advanced  Guard  at  all  ;  but  if  it  advanced  with 
intrepidity  the  column  has  time. 

Should  the  Advanced  Guard  be  obliged,  by  a 
superior  force,  to  retire,  after  having  fought 
bravely,  this  retreat  ought  to  be  made  on  either 
side  of  the  Column,  but  never  on  the  Column, 
because  the  latter  would  be  fired  upon,  and  the 
confusion  increased. 

On  all  these  subjects  the  men  should  be  previ- 


ADVANCED  GUARD.  37 

ously  well  instructed.  Every  Commanding  Offi- 
cer of  a  detached  party  must  consider  it  as  one 
of  his  first  duties  to  give  clear  and  circumstantial 
instructions  to  his  men,  without  which  they  will 
frequently  act  contrary  to  his  ideas,  even  with 
the  best  intention. 


III.    REAR   GUARD 


tii-^ 


Is  told  off  in  separate  divisions,  the 
same  as  an  Advance  Guards  only  in 
reverse  order  (fio^.  4.) 

The  object  of  a  Rear  Griiard  is  to 
prevent  the  enemy's  approaching  the 
column  iinperceived;  two  men  in  the 
Rear  are  sufficient,  but  these  must  he 
picked  men.  When  the  march  is  undis- 
turbed, they  often  halt  on  the  heights 
so  as  just  to  be  able  to  look  over  to 
the  rear,  to  discover  the  enemy.  When 
a  mountain  is  near,  the  Officer  will 
do  well  to  ride  on  the  top  of  it,  and  to 
look  about  the  country  with  his  spy- 
glass. 

If  the  enemy  follows  closely  with  a 
few  men,  to  see  the  strength  of  our 
column,  it  is  to  be  tried  to  lead  them 
into  an  ambuscade,  and  to  make  pris- 
oners, or  to  drive  them  off.  But  in 
case  the  Rear  is  attacked,  it  is  in- 
stantly to  be  supported  by  the  Ser- 
jeant's Troop,  and  this  by  the  Officer's 
Troop,  which  both  immediately  ad- 
vance for  that  purpose,  in  order  not 
to  allow  the  enemy  to  come  too  near 

b2 


40  REARGUARD. 

the  Column.  The  Commanding  Officer  of  the 
Column  will  then  support  him,  or  give  direc- 
tions to  retire  slowly.  If  the  enemy  follows 
with  a  more  considerable  force,  suppose  one 
squadron,  luitJiout  attacking,  the  Rear  Guard 
will  follow  the  Column  in  the  subsequent  man- 
ner. When  the  Column  is  a  thousand  yards  dis- 
tant from  the  Officer's  Troop,  he  trots  on  to  the 
ordinary  distance  of  five  hundred  yards,  halts,  and 
fronts ;  as  soon  as  the  Serjeant  sees  that  tlie  Offi- 
cer has  fronted,  he  trots  on  to  five  hundred  yards* 
distance  from  the  Officer,  and  fronts  likewise,  the 
two  men  in  the  rear  trot  on  to  the  same  distance 
from  the  Serjeant's  Troop.  In  this  manner  the 
Rear  alternately  follows  the  Column_,  which  pre- 
vents the  enemy  from  coming  too  near;  at  the 
same  time  an  engagement  is  avoided,  and  the 
horses  saved.  Whenever  the  Column  halts,  the 
different  parties  face  towards  the  enemy. 

At  night,  the  Rear  Guard  behaves  in  the  same 
manner  as  prescribed  for  the  Advanced  Guard  ; 
that  is  to  say,  the  intervals  between  tlie  several 
Troops  are  to  be  shorter,  and  a  sufficient  number 
of  single  men  placed  in  them  not  to  lose  sight  of 
the  Column  and  each  other. 


IV.     PATROLS. 


SECTION  I. 

SIDE     PATROLS 


Fig.  5. 

f       '^       Patrols  are  detached  on  the  Flanks, 
o  when  the  enemy  can  disturb  the  Flanks 
"'"of  the  column.     They  are  placed  in  the 
following  manner  (fig.  5)  :' 


•a 


oo 


02      1 


R 


I 

I 

I 
I 
I 

II 


g  H  500  steps.  600  steps.  500  steps. 

'o 

^  ^  Officer's  NoD-c'dOfif. 

,  Troop.  Troop. 


Flank  Patrol. 


in 


oo 


The  two  men  in  A  must  not  only  from 
time  to  time  communicate  with  the  Ad- 
vanced Guard — that  is  to  say,   one   of 
them  incline  to  the  left  until  he  can  see 
b3 


42  PATROLS. 

it — but  the  other,  when  there  is  a  height  near, 
oven  at  a  thousand  yards'  distance,  must  ride  so 
iar  on  the  top  of  it  that  he  can  look  over.  When 
attacked.  Side  Patrols  behave  as  Advanced  and 
Rear  Guards.  They  meet  the  enemy,  and  do  not 
suffer  him  to  come  too  near  the  Column. 

When  a  Side  Patrol  meets  with  a  wood  in  the 
direction  of  its  march,  the  disposition  is  altered 
(fig.  6). 


Fig.    6. 


SERGEANT 


rU/V/C     P/!T80L 


I  ! 

f 


PATROLS.  45 

The  officer  detaches  the  Serjeant's  Troop  to  the 
right,  the  Corporal's  and  four  naen  to  the  left,  and 
himself  remains  with  his  men  in  the -centre.  The 
Serjeant  sends  two  men  to  the  skirts  of  the  wood  ; 
these  must  look  at  the  tracks,  and  one  of  them 
ride  on  a  height,  if  any  is  near  ;  the  remainder 
divide  themselves  to  tlie  left  of  these  two  men,  at 
such  a  distance  that  they  can  keep  each  other  in 
sight.  The  Corporal  divides  his  men  in  the  same 
manner  from  tlie  Right  Flank  of  the  Column  to 
the  Officer's  Troop.  If  the  Officer  perceives 
that  these  two  lines  are  not  extensive  enough  to 
cover  the  ground  towards  his  Troop,  he  detaches 
a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  the  right  and  left 
to  form  a  perfect  line,  which  line  must  be  careful 
never  to  get  at  the  head  of  the  Column.  The 
Non-commissioned  officers  endeavor  to  keep  their 
men  in  the  same  line  with  the  Officer's  Division. 

It  sometimes  excites  pity  to  see  the  men  unne- 
cessarily gallop  and  fatigue  their  horses  on  such 
occasions,  only  from  want  of  instructions,  without 
doing  more  good  than  they  would  have  done  at  a 
walk. 

SECTION   II. 

PATROLLING   A   WOOD. 

This  is  done  in  the  same  manner  as  if  (Sec- 
tion I.,)  a  Side  Patrol  meets  with  a  wood,  with 
the  difference  that  two  men  are  likewise  sent 
round  to  the  left  extremity  of  the  wood. 


b5 


46  PATROLS. 

SECTION  III. 

PATROLS    OF    DISCOVERY 

Consists  generally  of  a  pretty  considerable 
force,  to  be  enabled  to  defend  themselves  against 
a  small  hostile  party  or  patrol,  and  are  sent  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  wliether  a  certain 
place  is  in  the  Enemy's  possession,  whether  he  is 
on  the  move  against  \m,  or  whether  a  certain  dis- 
trict is  occupied  by  him.  Sncli  a  Patrol  m;irches, 
after  having  passed  the  chain  of  Videttes,  with 
the  ordinary  precautions  of  liaving  three  men  for 
Advanced,  and  two  for  Rear  Guard,  and  sends,  ia 
case  the  country  requires  it,  one  man  to  the  right, 
and  another  to  the  left,  on  the  heights. 

As  not  unfrequently  the  safety,  but  also  the 
attainment  of  the  object  for  which  the  Patrol  was 
sent  out,  depends  upon  its  not  being  seen  by  the 
Enemy,  before  the  Patrol  has  discovered  him,  it 
is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  instruct  the  men  at 
the  head  very  accurately,  they  must  not  merely  be 
satisfied  with  looking  before  them,  but  look  at 
the  tracks  of  the  cross-roads  very  minutely,  and 
mount  every  hill  with  caution,  &c. 

If  this  is  done,  the  Patrol  will  sometimes  have 
opportunities  to  make  prisoners.  When  a  Patrol 
sees  the  Enemy  advance  towards  it  with  not 
too  strong  a  force,  it  must  try  to  conceal  itself  and 
rapidly  attack  the  unsuspecting  enemy:  he  will 
get  into  confusion,  fly,  and  perhaps  lose  some  pri- 
soners.   If  the  Enemy  has  been  discovered  before, 


PATROLS.  41 

l)ut  is  too  strong,  the  Patrol  retires:  is  perhaps 
not  seen  by  him  at  all  ;  and  ciiciimstances  may 
allow  that  it  is  able  to  continue  its  march,  and  to 
obtain  the  object  of  its  first  destination.  x\ll  these 
advantages  are  lost  when  the  Enemy  discovers  it. 

A  Patrol  ranst  never  enter  a  village  or  wood 
until  it  has  been  explored  ;  but  this  is  to  be  raan^ 
aged  in  such  a  way  that  the  Patrol  is  net  delayed  : 
for  the  leader  of  it  must  not  forget  that  the  Officer 
who  sent  him  out  calculates  the  time  of  his  re^ 
turn  :  if  he  does  not  come  back  near  that  time, 
he  that  sent  him  will  get  apprehensive,  and  send 
another  Patrol  after  him,  whereby  men  and  horses 
are  fatigued,  which  would  have  been  avoided  had 
the  Leader  of  the  Patrol  been  active  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duty. 

If  a  village  is  to  be  passed  at  night,  which  the 
Enemy  can  be  expected  to  have  occupied,  the  Pa- 
trol is  to  halt  (about  five  or  six  hundred  yards) 
on  the  side  of  it.  When  no  Videttes  of  the 
Enemy  are  visible,  a  few  men  are  sent  to  the 
right  and  left,  who  approach  gradually  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  entrances  of  the  village  are 
occupied  by  Infantry,  and  to  try  to  find  an  inha- 
bitant, whom  they  bring  to  the  Patrol,  or  listen 
whether  they  can  hear  anything.  If  nothing  can 
be  learned  by  these  means,  the  Patrol  proceeds 
with  the  same  precautions  as  mentioned  in  a 
former  Section. 

If  a  Patrol  is  ordered  to  ascertain  by  night,  whe- 
ther and  how  a  village  is  occupied,  three  of  the 
best  horses  are  to  be  picked  out  for  the  head^  eight 
b6 


48  PATROLS. 

men  are  to  follow  at  twenty-four  yards'  distance, 
and  the  remainder  of  tlie  Patrol  follows  at  a  hun- 
dred yards'  distance:  in  this  manner  the  Enemy's 
Vidette  must  be  approached,  without  the  least 
noise;  as  soon  as  the  ViJette  challenges,  the  ad- 
vance of  the  Patrol  must  j^o  on  at  full  speed  to 
take  him  prisoner.  Should  they  be  unsuccessful 
in  this,  the  eleven  men,  together  rapidly  attack 
the  Picquet,  to  bring  off  a  prisoner,  with  whom 
they  retire.  The  alarm  will  be  given  in  the  vil- 
lage, to  a  certainty,  and  the  sounding  of  a  trum- 
pet or  the  beating  of  drums  will  enable  us  to 
judge  by  what  Troops  it  is  occupied.  If  a  Patrol 
goes  so  far  that  it  is  obliged  to  feed  the  horses,  it 
should  never  be  done  in  a  village,  but  in  an  open 
country  under  some  trees,  and  Videttes  are  to  be 
placed  during  the  time. 

If  it  is  necessary  to  get  provisions  and  forage  out 
of  villages,  they  are  to  be  brought  out. 

On  such  occasions,  as  on  all  others,  the  inhabi- 
tants are  to  be  treated  with  politeness,  and  to  rob 
them  of  anything  deserves  the  severest  punish- 
ment, and  it  is  but  natural  if  they  betray  such 
unpleasant  guests  to  the  Enemy. 

If  guides  are  required,  or  inquiries  made  after 
a  road,  more  than  one  must  be  inquired  after,  to 
leave  the  people  in  uncertainty  which  road  the 
Patrol  means  to  take.  Guides  that  are  sent  home 
are  best  to  be  led  astray,  by  marching  a  wrong 
way  until  they  are  out  of  sight. 


SECRET  PATROLS,  49 

SECTION  IV. 

SECRET     PATRO  LS . 

These  only  consist  of  a  few  men,  six  or  eight, 
and  are  generally  sent  on  the  flanks,  and  soine- 
tinoes  in  the  rear  of  the  Enemy's  Army,  without 
the  knowlege  of  the  Enemy;  are  to  go  now  and 
then  at  a  great  distance  ;  and  are  to  remain  for  a 
considerable  time,  to  make  the  necessary  observa- 
tions ;  therefore  this  is  the  most  difficult  duty 
for  Light  Cavalry. 

Many  rules  laid  down  for  other  Patrols  are 
likewise  here  applicable.  j. 

A  Patrol  of  this  kind  marches  without  Ad- 
vanced and  Rear  Guard,  and,  if  the  country 
should  require  it,  only  one  man  rides  on  the 
heights  without  showing  himself.  If  the  Patrol 
proceeds  so  far,  that  it  is  obliged  to  march  with 
great  precaution,  it  must  quit  the  great  roads 
wherever  it  is  possible,  and  take  its  march  by 
bye-roads,  deep  valleys,  &c.,  &c.,  to  reach  unseen 
the  place  of  its  destination.  A  Guide  on  horse- 
back will  be  of  great  service  to  such  a  Patrol  ; 
but  he  is  to  be  paid  for  it,  and  treated  well. 
When  feeding  the  horses,  it  must  go  off  the  road 
into  a  bush  or  wood^  and  one  man  climbs  up  a 
tree  to  keep  a  look-out.  If  anything  hostile  ap- 
proaches, the  Patrol  escapes  without  noise,  and 
chooses  another  place  of  concealment  until  it  can 
proceed  by  roundabout  ways  without  danger.  A 
fire  can  only  be  lighted  with  great  caution,  but  it 


50  SECRET  PATROLS. 

is  "better  to  avoid  that  entirely.  If  an  inhabitant 
accidentally  meets  with  the  Patrol  at  night,  he 
must  remain  with  it  until  the  march  iscontinuad. 
Should  a  Secret  Patrol  be  discovered  by  the  Ene- 
my, notwithstanding  all  precautions,  it  must  fly  ; 
as  soon  as  the  enemy  gives  up  the  pursuit,  it  must 
make  attempts,  by  roundabout  ways,  to  get  not- 
withstanding, to  the  spot  where  its  commission 
can  be  carried  into  execution. 

This  sometimes  succeeds  beyond  expectation. 
A  well-informed  and  clever  officer  is  particularly 
required  for  this  kind  of  duty;  who  speaks  the 
language  of  the  country,  and  has  a  knowledge  of 
the  customs,  habits,  hopes,  and  fears  of  the  in- 
habitants. Such  a  one  will  be  secure  close  to  the 
Enemys  and  be  able  to  give  the  most  certain  and 
best  intelligence. 

It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  if  the  Leader  of  a 
Patrol,  when  returned,  cannot  answer  the  follow- 
ing questions  about  the  roads  he  passed,  viz  : 

Are  they  rocky,  sandy,  or  boggy  ? 

How  many  rivers  and  rivulets  he  passed;  and  the 
distances  from  one  to  the  other? 

Are  the  banks  of  them  bold,  or  only  an  impedi- 
ment, &c.  ? 

How  many  bridges  lead  over  them  ?  wooden  or 
massive  ? 

Are  fords  beside  those  bridges,  passable  at  every 
season  for  Cavalry,  Infantry,  or  Artillery,  &c.  ? 

How  many  villages  are  on  the  road,  and  what  are 


SECRET  PATROLS.  51 

their  names,  and  the  distances  from  one  to  the 
other  ? 
Does  the  road  go  throTigh  wood  ;  or  is  it  at  some 
distance;    apparently    how    large,    and    what 
kind? 

he  has  lost  sight  of  a  principal  point  of  his  dutj. 

The  foregoing  Instructions  can  only  he  consid- 
ered as  a  sketch  of  the  duties  of  the  Light  Cavalry. 
The  young,  yet  inexperienced  soldier  may  look 
upon  it  as  an  introduction  to  his  duties  ;  he  can 
only  expect  to  acquire  accomplishments  by  his 
own  reflections  and  exertions. 


AN  ABRIDGMENT 

OF 

COLONEL   ARENTSCHILDT'S 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO    OFFICERS  AND   NON-COMMISSIONKI> 
OFFICERS  OF  LIGHT  CAVALRY  ; 

BY 

lilEUT.-COLOWEL  THE  HOIT.  F.  PONSONBY, 
Tvvelfth  Light  Dragoons. 


INSTRUCTIONS 


FFICERS  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS  OF  CAV- 
ALRY, ON  OUTPOST  DOTY. 


PICQUET, 

I.  The  Officer  commanding  a  Picqmet  should 
have  the  Names  and  Regiments  of  the  men  writ- 
ten down  :  he  should  inspect  their  arras  and 
Ammunition;  he  should  see  that  they  are  pro- 
vided with  Provisions  and  Forage,  and  should 
thoroughly  understand  the  Orders  which  he  re- 
ceives. 

2.  On  the  march  to  where  the  Picquet  is  to  be 
stationed,  the  country  should  be  examined,  and 
the  places  where  a  stand  could  be  made  in  case 
the  Picquet  should  be  attacked,  ought  to  be  par- 
ticularly observed.  It  is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  give  the  corps  time  to  turn  out,  and  the 
Commander  of  a  Picquet  who  retires  at  full  speed, 
with  the  Enemy  at  his  heels,  deserves  the  severest 
punishment.  He  must  retire  as  slowly  as  possible, 
and  constantly  skirmish. 

3.  Upon  arriving  at  the  spot  chosen  for  the 
Picquet,  the  Officer  should  ascertain  the  number 


56  PICQtTET. 

of  Videttes  necessary,  by  observing  the  roads  and 
hills  in  front ;  he  should  then  place  them  in  such 
a  manner  that  they  can  each  see  what  is  coming 
towards  the  Picq^uet,  and  at  the  same  time  ob- 
serve one  another.  In  the  mean  time  the  Picquet 
should  dismount,  placing  one  Sentry  a  little  in 
advance ;  and  as  soon  as  the  Videttes  are  placed, 
two-thirds  of  the  Picquet  may  unbridle.  The 
Officer  should  make  a  little  sketch,  marking  the 
roads,  rivers,  bridges,  or  fords,  morasses,  cavities, 
hollow  roads,  mountains,  woods,  towns,  villages, 
and  their  distances.  An  officer  cannot  feel  confi- 
dent for  the  security  of  his  post,  unless  he  has 
acquired  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  country. 

4.  The  principal  rules  for  posting  a  Picquet  at 
night,  are  to  advance  it  two  or  three  miles  in  front 
of  the  main  body,  behind  a  bridge,  ravine,  wood,! 
or  bog,  through  which  the  road  may  pass,  to  place 
Videttes  in  front,  and  on  the  flanks,  and  to  send 
out  Patrols  of  two  or  three  men  each  at  half  an 
hour's  interval.  Sometimes  a  man  should  dis- 
mount and  listen  with  his  ear  to  the  ground,  by 
which  means  he  will  hear  the  march  of  Troops  at 
a  great  distance.  This  precaution  is  necessary  in 
stormy  weather.  Upon  coming  by  night  to  i 
new  spot.  Patrols  should  be  sent  out  in  every  di 
rection  before  the  Videttes  are  placed. 

5.  If  the   Enemy   is    near,  no   fire  should   b^ 
lighted,  the   post  should  be  frequently  changedJ 
one-half  of  the  Picquet  should   be  mounted,  one  §1 
hundred  yards    in   advance,  and   tlie   other    hal^  I 
should  keep  the  bridles  in  their  hands. 


PICQUET.  57 

6.  Upon  relieving  a  Picquet,  the  new  one 
slioulcl  form  in  the  rear  of  the  old,  the  Videttes 
should  \)e  relieved,  and  the  detail  of  duties  should 
be  thoroughl}^  explained  to  the  non-commissioned 
Officers  and  Privates..  The  Commander  of  the 
old  Picquet  should  deliver  over  to  the  new  one 
all  written  Orders,  and  the  verbal  Orders  should 
be  written  down  and  signed  by  the  Officer  re- 
lieved :  he  should  likewise  inform  him  to  wliom 
reports  are  to  be  made,  and  give  him  every  infor- 
mation he  has  relative  to  theEnemy,  the  Patrols, 
the  Country,  &c.,  and  the  night  posts  should  be 
pointed  out.  At  the  relief  of  the  Videttes,  both 
officers  of  the  old  and  new  Picquet  should  be  pre- 
sent, and  listen  to  the  instructions  given  by  the 
old  Vidette  to  the  new  one.  These  instructions 
should  be  from  wliat  part  of  the  country  the 
Enemy  maybe  expected,  where  the  neighbouring 
Videttes  are  stationed,  in  order  to  be  able  to  re- 
peat their  signals.  A  Vidette  should  never  move 
from  the  spot  upon  which  he  is  placed,  as  the  dif- 
ference of  a  yard  may  prevent  his  observing,  or 
being  observed,  at  a  great  distance. 

7.  A  dismounted  Sentry  should  be  placed  in 
front  of  the  Picquet,  where  he  can  observe  the 
movements  of  tl"^e  different  Videttes.  One-third 
of  the  horses  must  always  be  bridled  np,  and  be 
ready  to  advance  ;  the  men  must  not  take  off  their 
swords  or  belts  ;  one-half  may  sleep  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  the  other  half  in  the  afternoon,  so  that 
they  may  be  all  perfectly  alert  at  night.  The  men 
must  not  be  allowed  to  leave  the  Picquet,  or  to 


58  PICQUET. 


go  into  the  villages,  or  houses,  in  the  neighhor- 
liood.  When  the  men  water  their  horsc^s,  they 
must  bridle  them  up,  and  take  everything  with 
tliem ;  in  short,  a  Picquet  must  be  always  ready 
for  an  attack  in  half  a  mimite. 


PATROLS„  59 


PATROLS. 


8.  In  sending  out  Patrols,  the  following  Rules 
should  be  observed  :  The  First  should  go  out  in. 
the  morning  in  time  for  it  to  arrive  at  its  destina- 
tion before  daybreak,  where  it  should  remain 
until  the  Officer  who  commands  it  has  had  time 
to  go  to  some  rising  ground  and  look  over  the 
country.  The  Second  at  Pen.  The  Third  at  Two. 
The  Fourth  towards  Evening.  And  the  Fifth  at 
midnight.  This  arrangement,  however,  depends 
upon  the  distance  of  the  Enemy,  except  the  morn- 
ing Patrol,  which  is  to  go  under  all  circumstances. 
A  Patrol,  in  returning,  should  look  often  to  the 
rear^,  as  the  Enemy  frequently  succeeds  in  follow- 
ing a  negligent  Patrol.  The  Non-commissioned 
Officer  should  be  particularly  careful  not  to  allow 
the  men  to  fatigue  their  horses  ;  if  it  should  be 
necessary  to  feed,  it  should  never  be  done  in  a  vil- 
lage, but  in  an  open  country,  and  a  Vidette  should 
be  placed  during  the  time.  No  man  should  be 
permitted  to  leave  his  horse  for  a  moment,  and 
any  man  who  attempts  to  use  an  inhabitant  of 
the  country  ill,  or  to  take  anything  from  the 
town  by  force,  must  be  severely  punished. 

9.  The  time  for  the  Picquet  to  go  to  the  Night 
Post  is  when  it  becomes  too  dark  for  the  Videttes 
to  see  at  any  distance.  They  are  then  called  in, 
and  the  position  for  the  night  taken  up.  In  case  of 
any  desertion,  or  that  there  are  apprehensions  of 
being  betrayed  to  the  enemy,  by  the  inhabitants 


60  PATROLS. 

or  spies,  the  Picquct  should  change  its  ground^ 
but  tlie  Viciettes  reiriain. 

At  riiglit  the  Videttes  must  he  relieved  every 
hour  and  visited  every  half  hour.  The  Videttes 
should  at  all  times  be  double  if  possible.  In 
foggy  weather,  and  when  it  is  very  dark,  the 
double  Videttes  should  patrol  among  themselves, 
and  communicate  with  one  another.  When  the 
Enemy  is  near,  the  following  measure  contributes 
not  only  to  security,  but  is  the  best  method  of 
knowing  when  the  enemy  is  on  the  move  :  A  few 
men  should  patrol  during  the  night  beyond  the| 
chain  of  Videttes  in  different  directions,  and  as 
near  the  enemy  as  they  can  unperceived;  they 
should  then  dismount  and  listen  with  the  ear  to 
the  ground. 

10.  Every  person  attempting  to  pass  the  Out- 
post must  be  detained  till  the  morning.  After 
the  morning  Patrol  has  returned,  or  has  reported 
that  all  is  well,  the  Picquet  should  take  up  its 
position  for  the  day. 

11.  Videttes  should  be  placed  by  day  on  a  high 
ground,  so  as  to  have  an  extensive  view,  but  if| 
possible  near  a  rock  or  tree,  so  as  not  to  be  per-! 
ceived  by  the  Enemy;  when  the  Videttes  are 
placed  in  such  a  manner  that  they  can  overlook 
their  front,  see  each  other  and  the  ground  between 
them,  so  that  nothing  can  pass  unperceived,  they 
are  placed  as  they  ought  to  be. 

12.  By  night,  Videttes  are  taken  off  the  hills 
and  placed  on  the  roads,  behind  fords,  bridges, 
lavines,  &c.  ;  they  should  be  placed  at  the  hot- 


PATROLS.  61 

torn  of  hills,  Ro  that  any  object  moving  at  the  top 
would  he  easily  perceived.  They  should  by  no 
means  be  advanced  further  than  that  their  firing 
can  be  distinctly  heard  by  the  Picqnet. 

13.  When  a  Vidette  observes  anything  suspi- 
cious on  the  side  of  the  Enemy,  such  as  the  glit- 
tering of  arms,  rising  of  dust,  &c.,  he  is  to  move 
his  horse  round  in  a  circle  at  a  walk  }  the  Officer 
should  instantly  proceed  with  a  Corporal  and  four 
men  to  the  Vidette  ;  Qud  examine  with  his  glass, 
or  by  a  Patrol,  thoroughly  into  the  cause,  after 
which  he  must  make  his  report.  If  the  Vidette 
observes  Troops  marching  towards  him,  but  at  a 
great  distance,  he  is  to  ride  the  circle  in  a  trot  ; 
th^  officer  acts  as  in  the  former  case.  If  the  Ene- 
my should  approach  the  Vidette  at  no  great  dis- 
tance^ he  is  to  ride  the  circle  at  a  gallop.  The 
Officer  should  advance  with  his  whole  Picqnet ; 
his  further  duty  is  prescribed  in  Par.  15.  If  the 
Enemy  is  so  near  the  Videttes  that  they  are 
obliged  to  gallop  to  the  Picquets  for  their  own 
security,  they  should  fire  their  Carbines  or  Pis- 
tols. By  night,  if  the  Videttes  hear  a  suspicious 
noise^  even  at  a  great  distance,  such  as  the  rat- 
tling of  Carriages,  barking  of  dogs,  or  if  they 
observe  any  fire,  one  of  them  should  instantly  re- 
})ort  the  circumstances  to  the  officer  of  the  Pic- 
qnet, in  order  that  it  may  be  inquired  into  by  a 
Patrol,  If  any  one  should  approach  the  Videttes, 
they  must  challenge,  and  desire  the  person  or 
persons  to  halt  till  the  Officer  is  informed.  Should 
thepersoD  refuse tohaltj being  twicechallenged  in  a 


r  . 


62  PATROLS. 

loud  voice,  the  Vulette  is  to  fire.  Great  caution 
must  be  observed  by  night  if  a  Deserter  should 
come  from  the  Enemy,  the  Videttes  must  not  let 
him  approach  too  near;  they  must  make  him 
halt  till  the  Officer  comes  up.  By  day,  the  Vi- 
dette  is  to  make  a  signal  to  the  sentry  of  the  Pic- 
quet,  should  a  Deserter  approach,  and  a  party 
will  be  immediately  sent  to  receive  him. 


FLAG  OF  TRUCE.  63 


FLAG  OF  TRUCE. 

14.  No  person  coming  from  the  Eneray  witli  a 
Flag  of  Truce,  is  to  be  allowed  to  advance  farther 
than  the  chain  of  Videttes.  When  the  Vidette 
makes  the  signal,  the  Officer  of  the  Picquet 
should  meet  the  Flag  of  Truce  with  four  more, 
and  desire  the  hearer  to  halt,  if  possible,  in  a 
bottom,  as  the  intention  is  frequently  only  to 
make  observations  on  the  position  of  the  Picquet, 
in  order  to  attack  it  at  night.  If  the  bearer  only 
brings  Letters,  a  receipt  is  to  be  given  to  the 
bearer  and  sent  back  ;  but  if  he  insists  upon  be- 
ing allowed  to  proceed,  further  instructions  must 
be  obtained  from  the  Officer  commanding  the 
Outposts.  A  Flag  of  Truce  ought  to  be  treated 
with  the  utmost  civility,  but  no  conversation  re- 
lative to  the  Army  is  to  be  permitted. 

15.  When  a  Picquet  is  attacked,  the  Officer  is 
immediately  to  communicate  with  the  Picquets 
on  his  flank,  and  with  the  main  body  ;  he  is  then 
to  throw  out  his  skirmishers,  and  if  obliged  to 
retire,  it  must  be  done  as  slowly  as  possible,  to 
gain  time  for  the  corps  to  turn  out.  If  the  com- 
mander of  the  Picquet  should  have  fixed  upon 
places  where  to  make  a  stand,  (as  recommended 
in  Par.  2,)  he  will  find  the  advantage  ;  if  it  be  a 
bridge,  ford,  or  ravine,  he  should  act  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  upon  approaching  the  place, 
suppose  a  bridge,  he  should  gallop  over  it  with 
his  Picquet,  and  form  with  his  right  flank  to  the 


64  FLAG   OF   TRIjCE. 

Enemy,  taking  care  to  leave  tlie  passage  open. 
The  skirmishers  immediately  after  gallop  over, 
and  form  directly  fronting  the  passage  of  the 
bridge^  and  to  the  rear  of  the  Picquet  ;  the  Ene- 
my must  necessarily  halt,  in  order  to  drive  the 
Picquet  away  by  their  fire  ;  consequent!}^,  time 
is  given  to  the  main  body,  which  is  the  grand 
object.  If  the  Picquets  on  the  flanks  should  not 
be  attacked  at  the  same  time,  they  should  endea- 
vour, without  exposing  themselves  to  be  cut  off, 
to  act  upon  the  Enemy's  flanks.  In  general,  it 
is  a  rule  for  the  Picquets  not  attacked  to  retire  in 
a  line  with  those  cniiaKed. 


ADVANCED  GUARD,  66 


ADVANCED  GUARD. 

16.  If  an  Officer,  two  non-commissioned  Offi- 
cers, and  twenty-fonr  Privates,  form  the  Ad- 
vanced Guard,  the  Officer  should  post  himself 
about  five  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  columns, 
with  thirteen  men,  a  serjeant  and  eight  should 
be  detached  five  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  him, 
and  three  men  five  hundred  yards  in  advance  of 
the  whole.  The  principle  upon  which  an  Ad- 
vanced Guard,  Bear  Guards  or  Side  Patrol  is 
sent  out,  is  to  give  time  to  the  column  to  make 
dispositions  to  attack  or  retreat,  should  an  Ene- 
my be  discovered.  The  several  divisions  of  the 
Advanced  Guard  must  keep  their  support  con- 
stantly in  view^  and  if  a  wood,  village,  or  ravine 
appear  upon  their  front  or  flank,  it  must  be  care- 
fully examined  before  the  column  proceeds:  at 
night,  the  interval  between  the  divisions  of  an 
Advance  or  Rear  Guard,  should  be  much  less 
than  during  the  day,  and  a  communication  should 
be  kept  up  between  the  divisions,  by  two  or  three 
single  men  placed  at  such  distances  that  they  can 
see  each  other. 

17.  A  great  deal  of  responsibility  is  left  to  a 
non-commissioned  Officer  on  outpost  duty  :  he  has 
frequently  the  command  of  Patrols,  Picquets, 
&c.;  it  is  therefore  necessary  for  him  to  obtain  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  duty.  Unless  he  has 
authority  to  keep  up  the  strictest  discipline,  and 


66  ADVANCED  GUARD. 

to  TUcake  the  men  under  him  pay  the  greatest  at- 
tention to  all  Ordens,  he  is  not  fit  for  his  situa- 
ation,  and  he  is  to  recollect  that  the  safety  and 
honor  of  his  Regiment  may  frequently  depend 
upon  the  manner  in  which  he  executes  his  duty. 


REPORTS.  6T 


KEPOHTS. 

I 

18.  All  Officers  in  command  of  Picquets,  Pat- 
rols, &c.,  must  make  written  reports  of  any  thing 
which  occurs.  There  are  few  occasions  when  it 
is  necessary  to  send  a  verbal  report,  and  it  should, 
if  possible,  be  avoided,  as  it  is  very  difficult  to 
find  Non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Soldiers, 
who  will  deliver  it  correctly.  A  commander  of  a 
Post  or  Patrol,  must  be  very  cautious  not  to  create 
unnecessary  alarms  ;  he  must  report  as  fully  and 
as  correctly  as  possible.  If  he  reports  the  move- 
ments of  the  Enemy,  he  must  recollect  that  con- 
siderable confusion  may  arise  from  saying  '^  to 
the  right,''  or  '^to  the  left;"  he  must  say,  to  our 
right,  or  to  our  left,  or  to  ^^  the  Enemy's  right," 
or  to  "  the  Enemy's  left."  If  a  Non-commis- 
sioned Officer  cannot  send  a  written  report,  he 
must  explain  the  message  thoroughly  to  the  Pri- 
vate, and  should  the  latter  deliver  it  incorrectly, 
he  must  expect  to  be  punished. 

FINIS. 


CONTENTS. 


I.    ON  THE  CONDUCT  TO  BE  HELD  BY  AN  OFFICER,  OR 
NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICER,  ON  PICQUET. 

SECT.  I.— Parading  the  Picquet, 11 

II. — Marching  for  his  destination,        -        -        -        -  12 

III. — If  no  Picquet  was  on  the  spot  before,        -        -  12 

By  Day, 12 

By  Night, 14 

IV. — Releiving  another  Picquet,    -----  15 

V. — During  his  stay  on  Picquet,       -        -        -        -  17 

By  Day, IT 

By  Night, 19 

VI.— Placing  of  Videttes, 21 

By  Day, 21 

By  Night,    -------  22 

VII. — Instructions  for  the  Videttes,  and  what  the  Offi- 
cer commanding  the  Picquet  has  to  Observe  on 

their  making  signals,           -----  23 

By  Day, -  23 

By  Night, 24 

VITI. — On  the  arrival  of  a  Flag  of  truce,        -  v      -        -  25 

IX. — Deserters  coming  from  the  Enemy,    -        -        -  26 

At  Daytime, 26 

At  Night, 27 


7o  CONTENTS. 

X.-^When  the  Picquet  is  attacked,       -        -        -        -    2Y 

By  Day, 2T 

By  Night, 32 

II.  ADVANCED   GUARD. 

By  Day, 33 

By  Night, 36 

III.  REAR  GUARD. 

Its  Object  and  duties.  -        -        -        -  39 

IV.   PATROLS. 

SECT.  I.— Side  Patrols, 41 

II. — Patrolling  a  wood, 45 

III. — Patrols  of  Discovery, 46 

lY.— Secret  Patrols, 49 

ABRIDGMENT  BY    LIEUT.  COLONEL,  THE    HON.  F.  PON- 

SONBY. 
Picquet,        .---------55 

Patrols, '59 

Flag  of  Truce, ---63 

Advanced  Guard,     ---------65 

Reports, 6T 


SCIENCE    OF  WAR! 
TACTICS 

FOR 

OFFICERS 

OP 

INFANTRY,  CAVALRY  AND  ARTILLERY. 

ARRANGED  AND   COxMPILED  BY 

L.  V.  BUCKHOLTZ. 

One  Volume,  12mo,  Price  15  cts.  by  mail,  post  paid. 


ARMORY,  RICHMOND,  VA.,  Jan'y  8,  186L 
J.  W*  BandolpH' — Dear  Sir: — I  have  only  had  time   to  look 
over  the  Military  work  of  Capt.  BuckkoUz,  because  of  my  pressing 
duties,  yet  I  am  satisfied  that,  if  printed,  much  valuable  informa- 
tion to  our  citizen  soldiery  will  be  furnished. 

The  popular  works  upon  military  matters,  now  before  the  pub- 
lic, are  confined  to  ordinary  drills  and  parades.  What  is  now 
wanted,  is  a  treatise  going  to  show  when  the  various  movements 
of  Artillery,  Cavalry,  Infantry  and  Rifle,  as  taught  in  their  respec- 
tive drills,  should  be  used  in  presence  of  an  enemy, — what  grounds 
should  be  selected  for  battle  and  encampment — what  precautions  to 
betaking  when  advancing  or  retreating — when  to  act  in  column — ^ 
when  in  line,  how  to  post  the  different  arms  to  act  most  favorably 
— information  most  essential  to  success,  and  without  which,  no 
matter  how  personally  brave  troops  may  be,  they  are  exposed  to 
almost  certain  disaster  in  presence  of  an  equal  number  of  well 
drilled  and  well  manoeuvered  troopSj  and  this  information  Capt- 
Buckholtz  furnishes  in  his  work. 

I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  it. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

CHARLES  DIMMOCE,  Capt.,  ^c,  ^-c. 


Published  and  for  sale  by 

3  .   W.  RANDOLPH,  Richmond,   Va. 

Also  for  sale  by  Booksellers  generaliy^ 


NEW   MILITARY  WORK. 


INFANTRY  CAMP  DUTY,  FIELD   FORTIFICATION,  AND 

COAST    DEFENSE. 

Prepared  and  arranged  by  Capt.  L.  v.  Buckholtz,  with  plates, 

IGmo.  muslin.    Price  50  cts.  by  mail,  post  paid. 

KECOMMEMDATIONS. 

"This  is  a  mere  pocket-book  in  size,  but  it  is  crowded  with  in- 
struction for  military  men — instruction  gathered  and  condensed 
from  the  great  bulk  of  works  on  military  science.  It  encloses 
grains  of  wheat,  thz-eshed,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  great  sUvck — is 
simple,  convenient  and  comprehensive.  It  is  from  the  pen  of  Cap- 
tain Buckholtz,  of  this  city,  a  gentleman  who  has  seen  service  on 
the  continent  of  Europe,  and  who  is  an  accomplished  officer." — 
Richmond  Dispatch. 

"We  are  always  pleased  to  meet  with  a  Southern  Book,  one 
written,  printed  and  bound  in  our  own  section  by  our  own  people, 
and  we  therefore  greet  with  pleasure  two  military  works  now  be- 
fore us,  by  Captain  Buckholtz,  and  published  bv  J.  W.  Randolph, 
Richmond. 

The  first  m'^'On  Infantry  Camp  Duty,  Field  Fortification^  and 
Coast  Dejense.^^  Under  the  head  of  Infantry  Camp  Duty  we  are 
instructed  in  out  guards,  patrols,  vanguard,  side-guard,  rear 
guard,  ambuscade,  surprise,  and  transports.  In  Field  Fortification 
we  have  instructions  on  fortifications,  regularly  constructed  forts, 
attack  and  defense,  fortresses,  and  a  description  of  the  j)rincipal 
parts  of  fortified  works. 

The  chapter  on  Coast  Defense  is  most  excellent. 

As  an  elementar}^  work  on  the  subjects  treated,  this  book  has  no 
superior,  and  we  commend  it  to  our  military. 

The  second  book  is,  ^^  Tactics  for  Officers  of  Infantry,  Cavalry, 
mid  Artillery y  This  is  a  most  complete  military  work,  compri- 
sing instruction  in  the  three  departments  of  the  army,  and  contains 
much  information  which  we  have  never  met  with  in  the  popular 
military  works  of  the  day." — Norfolk  Southern  Argics. 


Published  and  for  sale  by 

J,    W.    RANDOLPH,    Richmond,   Va. 

Also  for  sale  by  Booksellers  generally. 


:mm 


■:||,|L|»i?p.  :' 


